Combination hair trimmer and safety razor



May 13, 1924. 1,493.962

v J. H. COWAN COMBINATION HAIR TRIIIBR AND SAFETY RAZOR Filed Dec. 26.191's Patented May 13, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,493,962 PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN H. COWA H, OI KANSAS CITY, IISSOUBI, ABSIGNOR TO THE CO'WAN HAIRCUTTER COMPANY, OI KANSAS CITY, HISBOUBI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

OOHBINATION HAIR 'rnmm AND SAFETY RAZOR.

Application filed December 88, 1919. serial No. 847,340.

To all whom z't may concern: I

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. Gowns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combination Hair Trimmersand Safety Razors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to a device adapted to he usedeither as a haircutter or as a safety-razor; and the primary object isto provide an improved device of this character which is thoroughlydurable, which can be taken apart and assembled with the greatestfacility, and which is of improved operation.

T the invention is illustrated, in its preferred embodiment, in theaccompanying drawing, in which-- Fig. i represents a plan view of theimproved device, looking towardthe outer face of the shoe employed,oblique position of the (mirth-plate being indicated by dotted lines;Fig. 2, an elevational view of the device, adjusted for use as asafety-raaorg Fig. 3, an under or innerside view oi the shoe; Fig. 4, aplan view of the blade; Fig. 5, an outer or lower side view of theconch-plate; Fig. 6, broken sectional view taken as indicated at line 6of Fig. 1, showing the device equipped with a handle applied at one end,enabling the device to he employed in much the manner of an olddashionedrazor; and Z, an enlarged sectional View showing the device ready foruse as a hair-trimmer.

in the illustration given, A represents a shoe which is to make contactwith the face or head; iii, a blade which bears against the under orinner side of the shoe; L, a comb-plate which is adapted to clamp theblade to the shoe; D, a clampingecrew adapted to secure the comb-plateand the interposed blade to the shoe; and E, an

' elongated handle which can he used interchangealoly at the ends of theshoe, or in the manner illustrated in 2.

The shoe A is provided with an inclined wall 1 which is elongatedlongitudinally so as to he oi approximately the same length as theblade. This wall terminates at its tront edge in a redn too 2, and therear portion of the wall is provided with an integral heel 3. The heeland toe portions of the shoe are separated by a longitudinal space 4.The lower or inner surfaces of the toe and heel portions of the shoe arepreferably curved, or beveled slightly so as to provide longitudinalbearmgs for theblade at the points 5 and 6. The shoe may comprise acasting or drop-forging. The heelportion 3 is in the shape of alongitudinal ledge, or projection, which is provided with a-centralthreaded socket 3 and with interlock lugs 3 which flank said socket. Atits front side, the heel-portion is cut away, or recessed, at points 3,these recesses opening into the recess 4 under the instep of the shoe.These recesses lighten the shoe. At the rear corner of the heel, thereis rovided a longitudinal recess 7 which is ad apted to accoodate a rearflange with which the comb is provided, when the comb is in theforwardly shifted position. At the end of the heel-portion of the shoeare provided threaded sockets 8 adapted to receive a screw of the samedimensions as the central socket 3 The shoe is provided with alongitudinal recess 9 which is partially overhung by the rear portion ofthe wall 1. The heel is provided at its rear side with a projectionwhich afi ords a curved shoulder 10. The recess 9 has a concave wall,the curve of which is extended and merged with the convex surface 10.Thus, the rear ortion of the shoe afiords a finger-grip, which enablesthe device to be grasped between the fingers and thumb, the thumbengaging the head of the clamping-screw l).

The blade B is provided with a central perforation 11 and with slots, orperforations, 12, flanking the central perforation and adapted to engagethe interlock lugs of the shoe.

The comb-plate C is provided at its front edge with teeth 13 andpreferably has its rear edge equipped with a longitudinal flange 14,which is adapted to be housed in the recess 7 of the shoe when thecombplate is projected forwardly to the full extent. The comb-plate isprovided with a central slot 15 which extends forwardly from a pointnear the rear edge of the combplate, The metal bordering this slotispreferably struck downwardly or away from the shoe, to provide a head,or strengthen ing rib, 15 At points flanking the central slot, thecomb-plate is provided. with slots 16, which engage the interlock lugs3. lhe slots 16 are somewhat wider than the length of the interlock lugs3, thus permitting the comb-plate to be swung to an oblique position, asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The purpose is to graduate thelength 0 the hair in the trimming operation. 7

The clamping-screw D has a reduced threaded perforation which screwsinto the socket 3, and also has an enlarged head 17, at the base ofwhich is a shoulder 17 adapt- .ed to bear against the bead 15 borderingthe center slot 15 of the comb-plate. Thus the clamping-screw is adaptedto clamp the comb-plate and the interposed blade to the shoe. Theenlarged head 17 of the clamping-screw is provided with a curve 17 ofcomparatively large radius, which enables the thumb to grasp the screwin opposition to the fingers which engage the finger-grip of the shoe.It is preferred to provide the outer end of the clamping-screw with athreaded socket 17 of the same dimensions and pitch as the sockets 3 and8.

The handle E is in the form of a shaft 18, which is equi ped at itsinner end with a reduced threa ed portion, or screw, 18, which isadapted to screw into any one of the sockets mentioned. The-handle isalso provided with a clamping shoulder 18".

The manner of using the improved device may be described briefly. Withthe parts assembled as shown in Fig. 7, the device may be employed forcutting or trimming the hair; and, if desired, the comb-plate may beadjusted to an oblique position, so that the ends of the teeth willcoincide with an inclined line forming an angle with the cutting edge ofthe blade. Thus, the teeth will project successively further and furtherfrom the edge of the blade. This enables the hair tobe trimmed closer atthe edges than could be accomplished were the teeth all to project thesame distance from the ed e of the blade.

y retracting the comb-plate, or moving it rearwardly with relation tothe shoe and blade, the comb-plate may be set so as to enable the deviceto be employed as a safetyrazor. When the proper adjustment is made, thedevice can be employed either in the condition shown in Fig. 7 or thehandle E may be applied and the device employed in the condition shownin Fig. 2. However, if desired, the handle E may beapplied to the shoeat either end thereof by turning the screw-portion 18 of the handle intoone of the soc ets'8. In this condition, the device may be employed verymuch as an ordinary razor is em loyed. While the handle E is shown-inclamping-screw D, it is possible to remove ig. 2 as screwed into thethescrew D and use the handle E as the clam in -screw for securing thecomb-plate and la e to the shoe.

The improved device may be manufactured at moderate cost, may beassembled and disassembled with facility, and may be converted to suitthe user, who may employ either the short handle D, or the longer handleE, or both, and the longer handle E may be disposed at right-ancgles tothe plane of the com late, or exten mg from either end of the s oe, asdesired.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstandin only, and no unnecessary limitation shoul be understoodtherefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible, in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the character set forth, comprising a shoehaving itsinner side adapted to bear against a blade, said shoe having an inclinedouter surface meeting the plane of the b ade and having its rear portionequipped with a finger-grip, a blade bearing against the inner side ofsaid shoe, a combplate between which and said shoe said blade isinterposed, and a clamping screw securing said comb-plate and blade tothe rear portion of said shoe, said clamping screw being ada ted toserve as a thumbpiece, whereby t e device may be grasped between thethumb and fingers.

2. A device of the character set forth, comprising a shoe having oneside adapted to engage a blade and provided with a longitudinal recessand having an inclined surface at the other side, a comb-plate providedwith a central slot and two widened slots flanking the same, a bladeinterposed between the shoe and comb-plate, and a clamp ing screwextending through said slot and engaging a threaded central socket inthe heel-portion of said shoe.

3. A device of the character. set forth, comprising a shoe having aninclined wall terminating at its front edge in a toe, the

rear portion of said wall having formed integrally therewith a ledgeaffording a heel,

said heel having a longitudinal recess at its rear lnner corner,acomb-plate having a central slot and having a rear flange adapted toengage said recess, a blade interposed between said comb-plate and saidshoe, and a clamping screw extending through. said comblate and engaginga central threaded soc et in said heel.

JOH H. COWAN.

